Title: Senate Raises Alarm Over Renewed Borno Insurgency After Deadly Attack on Army Base Date Published: 11 March 2026 Description: The Senate on Wednesday raised fresh concerns over a resurgence of insurgent attacks in Borno State following a deadly assault on a Nigerian Army formation in Kukawa Local Government Area that claimed the life of a commanding officer and several soldiers.The alarm was raised during plenary after the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, presented a motion drawing lawmakers’ attention to the coordinated attack carried out by suspected insurgents in the early hours of March 9, 2026.Moving the motion, Monguno said the attackers stormed the military base from multiple directions and engaged troops in a fierce gun battle that lasted for hours.He expressed concern that the attack led to the death of Lieutenant Colonel Umar Farouq, a senior officer who played a key role in facilitating the return of displaced residents to Kukawa town after the community was previously devastated by insurgents.According to the senator, the assailants also set military vehicles ablaze and carted away weapons during the attack, describing the incident as part of a renewed wave of assaults on military formations in the North-East despite ongoing counter-insurgency operations under Operation Hadin Kai.Security sources said Lt-Col Farouq, who commanded operations in Kukawa, sustained injuries during the battle and later died while being transported to Maiduguri for medical treatment.Lawmakers were also told that the incident formed part of a worrying pattern in which several commanding officers had recently been killed while defending military bases against insurgent attacks.During the debate, media reports cited by lawmakers indicated that officers recently killed included Major U.I. Mairiga, who led the Mayenti base; Lt-Col Farouq of the Kukawa base and the 101 Brigade; and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who served in Konduga.Further findings presented before the Senate showed that within the last three months, commanding officers stationed in Damasak, Kukawa and Bama had reportedly lost their lives during attacks on military formations or ambushes carried out by insurgents during clearance operations.Contributing to the debate, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan warned that insurgency in Borno State was resurging at an alarming rate and called for extraordinary measures to contain the situation.He disclosed that several communities had come under simultaneous attacks, noting that Mairari community in Borno North was ransacked on the same day Baga was attacked.Lawan added that Konduga Local Government Area in Borno Central also suffered an assault during which the commanding officer, Lt-Col Iliyasu, was killed, while Gajiganna community was similarly overrun by insurgents.He further revealed that another commanding officer, identified as Lt-Col Gidado, was also killed in Biu Junction, an area bordering the constituency of Senator Ali Ndume representing Borno South.According to him, the loss of several commanding officers within a short period underscored the seriousness of the renewed insurgent offensive in the state.While commending the Nigerian military for its continued resolve against insurgents, Lawan said their efforts had helped ensure that many citizens could still live with a measure of safety despite persistent threats.Presiding over the session, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, acknowledged the gravity of the security situation but expressed confidence in the federal government’s efforts to tackle the challenge.He noted that security threats were not limited to one region, adding that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to addressing insecurity across the country.Following deliberations, the Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of the soldiers who died in the line of duty.The lawmakers also commended officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly troops involved in Operation Hadin Kai, for their courage and dedication in confronting insurgents and protecting communities in the North-East.They further urged the military to intensify counter-insurgency operations through improved intelligence gathering, surveillance and operational capacity to restore lasting peace in Borno State and the wider North-East region. Attached Images: eaac6ddaa0f162a19f83cf7d67baa9e4173d6fe3dbc7f1c19d16ab6ccf545f6e.jpg Attached Video: None